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[Sir Tigger KC]

Has anyone used Purple Bricks?     

[aaronjb]

No, but given that estate agents are universally shite (in my experience, anyway); how much worse could they possibly be?

[Mister Rog]

No, but given that estate agents are universally shite (in my experience, anyway); how much worse could they possibly be?

Some years ago (North London) we were in a position to move significantly upmarket. We knew the area we wanted to move to. Walked into Estate Agent right in that area. Told him what we wanted, and what we would be selling. He deterred me from absolutely every house I enquired about and didn't even want my contact details. He prejudged. We bought a house that was on his books but via a different agent. Years later we sold up to move to Wales. The same agent was still in business, but no way were we going to use him.

There are some good ones that are proactive and actually try to sell houses, but I agree most are a waste of space.

 

 

[Viral_Jim]

Has anyone used Purple Bricks?     

No but they were on the panel of 5 we got round and their valuation seemed about right in the end. Reasons we didn't choose them:

1. The woman managed to annoy the cr@p out of me in the 40mins she was here and she was much more high pressure "selling" her services than the others, put us both off immediately.
2. Payment options. Yes, you can sell it for £999 or whatever with them but only if you want to pay up front (we couldn't) and if you do all your own viewings (we wanted the option for them to do some if we were out).
3. Solicitors. If you want to pay on completion you have to use their solicitors for conveyance and pay an extra £400 (I think) for the privilege. This was a red line for us, we have a family solicitor who we have used for over 15yrs and trust implicitly. Everyone I know (without exception) who has selected their estate agent's solicitor has had no end of problems, this is because they stack em high, sell em cheap and you get what you pay for, peanuts and monkeys.
4. Photos. All the purple bricks places round us have very obviously been photograped by the agent. Our place doesn't photograph well and we decided we needed a professional photographer - it made an unbelievable difference.
5. Cost. So, if you want professional photos, to pay on completion and to not do your own viewings, Purple Bricks are up to £1500 plus you pay for the photographer, oh and EPC on top. We paid £1750 + VAT fixed fee with a local outfit and got all that, plus premium rightmove listing, plus the house in the local rags plus its in their shop window. Oh and the guy didn't annoy the sh!t our of me.

Ultimately it comes down to what you're selling. If you're looking to shift a sub £100k terrace where chances are you'll be selling to a Buy to Let landlord or first time buyer, I'd use them. If you're trying to put your house in the best light possible so you can take a premium on it over and above the norm, then I would look elsewhere. 

[Mister Rog]

Has anyone used Purple Bricks?     

No but  . . . .

That's good info and helpful. I'd often wondered   

[Alnico Blue]

Neighbour whos garden backs on to ours  has her house  up for sale with PB . . . speaking with her the other day  it seems the deal is nothing like they said it would be . . . and there are charges for lots of things she thought were included . . ..
she is not happy . . . . But  of course theres the  "No Commission" . . .yer right ! 

[STEMO]

I have been told that Emoov are the best of the online agents, but have no personal experience.

Free valuation by agent
Floorplan
'For sale' board
Professional photos
Listing on Rightmove,
Zoopla, Primelocation and more
Account manager
Viewings arranged
Buyers vetted
Offer negotiation
Sales progression

£895 (£995 London and inner M25)
– pay up front (or later with
0% finance option available)
£1,995 – pay on completion

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Purple Bricks are as devious and untruthful as any other estate agent.

Hanging is too good for them.

The crook we spoke to wanted an additional £112 for each viewing......and if you pay in full up front what incentive is there for them to sell the house.

[Viral_Jim]

...and if you pay in full up front what incentive is there for them to sell the house.

Swings and roundabouts I suspect. If its pay on completion (fixed fee especially) the incentive is for them to give the lowest valuation they reckon a punter will swallow. That way they can market a "bargain" house and get the money in nice and quick.

Personally I think its best to form an objective idea of what the house is worth, and take valuations with a pinch of salt and pick the agent you think you can work with.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

My guess is once you pay in full up front interest from 'potential buyers' will suddenly disappear.

They have their money.......time to move on to the next victim.

[Doctor Gollum]

All those TV adverts don't pay for themselves... 

[Sir Tigger KC]

Has anyone used Purple Bricks?     

No but  . . . .

That's good info and helpful. I'd often wondered   

Thanks Jimmy that's answered a lot of questions. 

I didn't realise you have to pay up front.  That's a no no for me! 

[Viral_Jim]

No worries, in their defense, i don't think all their representatives will be as irritating as a dose of crabs. But I'm pretty certain the other points I made are universally applicable.   

[Terbs]

Talking in general to my solicitor the other day, regarding the conveyancing of our sale and purchase, she said Purple Bricks are a nightmare to deal with, in her experience.
We are not using PB, but trying to get info out of our pucker estate agents is a nightmare !!!!!!!
I am really p****d off now with this moving lark, I am that close to pulling the plug and staying put.
Bloody estate agent in Brackley keeps on about completion dates......Christ sake, I haven't signed anything yet. My solicitor can't get in contact with my buyers solicitor. It's just brick wall all the time.....and this is with pucker estate agents, not Purple Bricks !!!!!!!

[Rods2]

No, but given that estate agents are universally shite (in my experience, anyway); how much worse could they possibly be?

Some years ago (North London) we were in a position to move significantly upmarket. We knew the area we wanted to move to. Walked into Estate Agent right in that area. Told him what we wanted, and what we would be selling. He deterred me from absolutely every house I enquired about and didn't even want my contact details. He prejudged. We bought a house that was on his books but via a different agent. Years later we sold up to move to Wales. The same agent was still in business, but no way were we going to use him.

There are some good ones that are proactive and actually try to sell houses, but I agree most are a waste of space.

I had the same experience in the 1980's, going from living at home to buying a big detached house. The only two agents of seven that sent through details, one of them sold me my house at the full realistic asking price. Non-estate position down a small private road in the middle of Sandhurst at the same price as the equivalent open plan estate market grot, that I drove past and rejected. I've never had any regrets as it is a great place to live.

[Sir Tigger KC]

Bloody estate agent in Brackley keeps on about completion dates......Christ sake, I haven't signed anything yet. My solicitor can't get in contact with my buyers solicitor.

I bet he hasn't phoned or emailed the buyers solicitor and is writing letters and sending them 2nd class! 

When ever I've had to use a solicitor, I've found them to be so freaking dickensian it's untrue! 

[Gaffers]

No, but given that estate agents are universally shite (in my experience, anyway); how much worse could they possibly be?

Some years ago (North London) we were in a position to move significantly upmarket. We knew the area we wanted to move to. Walked into Estate Agent right in that area. Told him what we wanted, and what we would be selling. He deterred me from absolutely every house I enquired about and didn't even want my contact details. He prejudged. We bought a house that was on his books but via a different agent. Years later we sold up to move to Wales. The same agent was still in business, but no way were we going to use him.

There are some good ones that are proactive and actually try to sell houses, but I agree most are a waste of space.

I had the same experience in the 1980's, going from living at home to buying a big detached house. The only two agents of seven that sent through details, one of them sold me my house at the full realistic asking price. Non-estate position down a small private road in the middle of Sandhurst at the same price as the equivalent open plan estate market grot, that I drove past and rejected. I've never had any regrets as it is a great place to live.

Maybe so but as a former student of the academy South Camberley is as close as I want to get

[aaronjb]

Bloody estate agent in Brackley keeps on about completion dates......Christ sake, I haven't signed anything yet. My solicitor can't get in contact with my buyers solicitor.

I bet he hasn't phoned or emailed the buyers solicitor and is writing letters and sending them 2nd class! 

When ever I've had to use a solicitor, I've found them to be so freaking dickensian it's untrue! 

That's what really grinds my gears - you end up doing all the leg work for the solicitors and the estate agents. Half the time they refuse to talk to each other or "Can't get hold of them" - yet when you call you can get hold of them just fine.. money for old rope.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Bloody estate agent in Brackley keeps on about completion dates......Christ sake, I haven't signed anything yet. My solicitor can't get in contact with my buyers solicitor.

I bet he hasn't phoned or emailed the buyers solicitor and is writing letters and sending them 2nd class! 

When ever I've had to use a solicitor, I've found them to be so freaking dickensian it's untrue! 

That's what really grinds my gears - you end up doing all the leg work for the solicitors and the estate agents. Half the time they refuse to talk to each other or "Can't get hold of them" - yet when you call you can get hold of them just fine.. money for old rope.

Yes. The lazy little shits are reactive rather than proactive. They will wait endlessly for another estate agent/solicitor to contact them. When I suggest "how about you give them a call to find out why things are taking so long" they look shocked.

As Aaron rightly says, the customer/client ends  up doing their job for them just to keep things moving.

[Terbs]

We are on week 12 now....and there are only three in the chain (not counting our purchase which is no onward chain.) Its the first time buyer holding things up. Evidently querying this, querying that, but I was told that was sorted on Monday, but still nothing this end !!!
 

[Kevin Wood]

We are on week 12 now....and there are only three in the chain (not counting our purchase which is no onward chain.) Its the first time buyer holding things up. Evidently querying this, querying that, but I was told that was sorted on Monday, but still nothing this end !!!
 

Sounds like it's about time for one of the solicitors to go on holiday, or may be they already have, but haven't thought to tell anyone?

I hope it is soon sorted.

[Terbs]

Cheers Kevin. It would finish the misses, but I really feel like pulling the plug, staying here, and telling them all b******s

[Terbs]

Kevin....spot on. Just had Estate agent on with update. A solicitor is on holiday, and no-one checked the inbox. Form LR1 or LD1 !!!! reputedly, not been received by buyers solicitor, so it has now been sent direct to the buyer, who is going to print it off, and take it personally to the solicitors office. Date for moving now looks about 3rd August. Evidently all parties are desperate to move, but we are thwarted by bloody solicitor's office. As I said earlier, this form was supposed to have been sent Monday, buyer has been asking where the hell it is....now we know

[Mister Rog]

Kevin....spot on. Just had Estate agent on with update. A solicitor is on holiday, and no-one checked the inbox. Form LR1 or LD1 !!!! reputedly, not been received by buyers solicitor, so it has now been sent direct to the buyer, who is going to print it off, and take it personally to the solicitors office. Date for moving now looks about 3rd August. Evidently all parties are desperate to move, but we are thwarted by bloody solicitor's office. As I said earlier, this form was supposed to have been sent Monday, buyer has been asking where the hell it is....now we know

We moved about four years ago and an incompetent solicitor two steps up the chain from us caused huge problems and a lot of bad feeling that exists even now. Everybody down the chain was stuck. Complicated by the fact I was buying two properties. There were threats to pull out, arguments down the telephone, tears in offices. Terrible. And there was no real reason for delay just incompetence. It ended up with simultaneous exchange and completion on our sale. So exchange and complete on the same day. Hair raising, as even at the very last minute before handing keys over it can all fall though.

[Viral_Jim]

We are on week 12 now....and there are only three in the chain (not counting our purchase which is no onward chain.) Its the first time buyer holding things up. Evidently querying this, querying that, but I was told that was sorted on Monday, but still nothing this end !!!
 

The other thing is there may be shenanigans on the part of the FTB, in this instance not wanting to move before the end of the tenancy and thus have to pay a mortgage and rent. Not that that helps you of course.

I'll hold my hands up to it to a minor extent. If we move before 31/08 we'll have a £4k early repayment charge on the mortgage, so if it looks likely theyll rush it through (doubtful given it's only 6 weeks out) then I suspect an impromptu foreign holiday will be in order.   

[Terbs]

The FTB in our case, Jimmy, are living with parents, so that should not present problems. They are the ones getting off their backsides to try to speed things up, and repair solicitor incompetence.

[henryd]

Kevin....spot on. Just had Estate agent on with update. A solicitor is on holiday, and no-one checked the inbox. Form LR1 or LD1 !!!! reputedly, not been received by buyers solicitor, so it has now been sent direct to the buyer, who is going to print it off, and take it personally to the solicitors office. Date for moving now looks about 3rd August. Evidently all parties are desperate to move, but we are thwarted by bloody solicitor's office. As I said earlier, this form was supposed to have been sent Monday, buyer has been asking where the hell it is....now we know

We moved about four years ago and an incompetent solicitor two steps up the chain from us caused huge problems and a lot of bad feeling that exists even now. Everybody down the chain was stuck. Complicated by the fact I was buying two properties. There were threats to pull out, arguments down the telephone, tears in offices. Terrible. And there was no real reason for delay just incompetence. It ended up with simultaneous exchange and completion on our sale. So exchange and complete on the same day. Hair raising, as even at the very last minute before handing keys over it can all fall though.

We had a seller pull out on day of completion which was shit at the time as our house sale had already completed,turned out well though as the house we eventually bought was much bigger and better